olden

1. not comparableFrom or relating to a previous era.

   olden days, olden times

   2 more examples

   "You are right to some extent in what you say. In the olden days people had a stronger belief in all kinds of witchery; now they pretend not to believe in it, that they may be looked upon as sensible and educated people, as you say."

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 156

   In olden days, a glimpse of stockings Was looked on as something shocking; Now, heaven knows, Anything goes.

   1934, Cole Porter, “Anything Goes”

   Synonyms: bygone

2. archaicnot comparableOld; ancient.

   We […] told over the story of past sufferings, and renewed olden vows of devotion.

   1857, Martha Griffith Browne, Autobiography of a Female Slave, page 347

   1 more example

   Beowulf, behind his shield, thrust forth only his right arm. In it he had picked up the sword of Ing, well known in olden lore.

   1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 44

   Synonyms: auld

present singular third person oldens · participle present oldening · participle past oldened · past oldened

1. datedintransitiverareTo grow old; age; assume an older appearance or character; become affected by age.

   They were not worldly days; and so, as we olden with our passage through the world, they stay young, and we love them as pure youthful things are loved.

   1912, John Ayscough, Saints and Places, page 123

   1 more example

   Of all Sedley's opponents in his debates with his creditors which now ensued, and harassed the feelings of the humiliated old gentleman so severely, that in six weeks he oldened more than he had done for fifteen years before—the most determined and obstinate seemed to be John Osborne, his old friend and neighbour […]

   1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC

   Synonyms: elden, mature

plural Oldens

1. countableuncountableA surname.

   There were chances for both sides, and Noah Bushby's team almost pulled one back early into the second half when Mackenzie Olden's looping cross struck the post.

   2026 September 6, Ioan Griffiths, Aled Williams, “Swans beat Cardiff & Wrexham start title defence with win”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 07 Sep 2026, retrieved 07 Sep 2026

2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Howell County, Missouri, United States.
3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Eastland County, Texas, United States.